Pubdate: Tue, 04 Feb 2003
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 2003 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454
Author: Richard Ford, Home Correspondent

ZERO TOLERANCE MAY MASK DRUG USAGE

ZERO tolerance drug policies used by schools may be counter-productive 
because pupils simply conceal their drug problems, according to a Home 
Office report. A study of the drug abuse habits of 300 young offenders 
concluded that low or zero tolerance strategies in schools "may not be 
helpful" for the youngsters. "It encourages children to conceal rather than 
deal with their drug use and can lead to the exclusion of those caught," 
the report, published yesterday, said. "They are not necessarily those who 
use drugs most and not the only users in school."

The conclusions from the Home Office study contrast with guidance from the 
Department for Education and Skills which has toughened head teachers' 
powers to expel drug-dealing pupils. A fifth of the group studied for the 
Home Office report had dealt in drugs, shoplifted, sold stolen goods or 
gone joyriding at least 20 times in the previous year.

More than 85 per cent had used cannabis, alcohol and tobacco, but the 
number of heroin and crack cocaine users was still comparatively low. It 
was found that 18 per cent had taken crack and 11 per cent heroin, but use 
of these two drugs was "infrequent".

In fact, researchers concluded that the group, all but one of whom was 
under 18, were not being drawn into use of the very hardest drugs, even 
though they were regularly using Ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine, LSD and 
cannabis.

The Home Office also published reports saying that 42 per cent of young 
homeless people had taken heroin and 38 per cent crack cocaine.
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